Support for mining machines



T. E. PRAY.

SUPPORT FOR MINING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1920.

1,421,557. PatentedJu ly 4 ,1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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T. E. PRAY. SUPPORT FOR MINING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1920.

Patented July 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ll IIIII H I It IflI l -H IJI'WH" l l l telltl lfi llfi THOMAS E. PRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR- TO GOODMAN TMANUFACTURING OOIVIPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01'? ILLINOIS.

SUPPORT FOR MINING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4t, 1922.

Application filed May 6, 1920. Serial No. 379,210.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. PRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a Support for Mining Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for mining machines of the class adapted to be moved laterally along the mine wall to cut a. horizontal kerf. The object of this invention is to provice a support for mining machines of the class described, whereby a lrerf may be cut in a plane above the mine floor somewhat higher than the normal cutting plane of such machines. A further object is to provide means for cutting a kerf of variable heights.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the drawings in which Figure 1 shows mining machine provided with a support, for raising it from the ground.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the support with the mining machine removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a side view if the mechanism shown in Figure 2, with a portion of the side wall broken away.

Figure 4 is an end view with a portion of one side wall broken away.

Coal mining machines of the class described are usually moved along the face of the mine wall by means of a flexible draft device anchored at a distance from the machine. Such machines comprise a body portion A, containing a motor and operating mechanism, and a longitudinal extending cutter bar 1 located as near the mine floor as practicable, so as to cut the kcrf at the bottom of the seam, or vein, of coal.

In the illustrations, I have shown a mining machine of the continuous cutter type in which the cutter bar extends longitudinally of the body portion A, and the machine is adapted to be moved laterally during its cutting operation by means of a suitable draft device driven by the motor. The cutter bar 1is provided with a cutter chain 2 of any approved type, having suitable cut-ting bits 3, therein. It will be understood, however, that my invention may be applied to other mining machines, as for instance, a socalled Longwall machine which has a cutter bar extending from one side of the body portion, and is adapted to be moved longi tudinally along the mine wall.

In mining coal with machines of the above description, it is found that the coal is sometimes formed with a thin horizontal seam of dirt or other foreign material on a plane somewhat above the lower limit of the coal vein. In such instances, it may be found to be economical to cut the kerf along the dirt seam, rather than at the lower limit of the coal vein adjacent the mine floor, as is usually done. Furthermore, the dirt seam may be of variable height so that it may be necessary to change the heightof the cutte bar in its relation to the mine floor while male ing the cut. For this purpose, I have provided the support 4,which may be attached to the bottom of the main frame A of the mining machine by any suitable means such as bolts 5, 5. This support comprises a top portion 6 and a bottom portion 7 having downwardly and upwardly extending side plates 8, 8, and 9, 9, respectively, arranged to telescope with each other, as shown. The means for varying the height of the support comprises two sets of toggle members 10, 10, one at each end of the support, and a horizontal shaft 11 associated with the toggle members, and provided with a right hand screw thread 12 and left hand screw thread 18 engaging threaded sleeves 1 1 and 15 respectively. The toggle members are similar in construction, each comprising a horizontal yoke 16, attached to the threaded sleeve 1a, and provided with pivoted ends 17, 17 which form the center hinge of the pair or upwardly and downwardly extend ing toggle levers 18, 1S, hinged to the upper and lower walls of the support respectively. Means for retaining the upper and lower portions 6 and 7 in alignment with each other comprise a plurality of guide members 19, 19 preferably attached to the side walls 9, 9 adjacent the upper margin thereof, and traveling in vertically disposed guide slots 20, 20, formed in the side walls of the telescoping upper portion 7. Suitable longitudinal braces 21, 21, may be attached to the interior of the side walls 9, 9, and a plurality of cross braces 22, 22, provided to afford necessary rigidity to the support.

In the foregoing description itwill be seen that a mining machine of the ordinary type may be mounted on the support shown and described herein for cutting a kerf above the mine floor. The mining machine may be raised or lowered, by applying a wrench and other similar device to the end of the shaft 11, for following seams of varying heights. The shaft 11 is in position to be easily reached while the machine is in operation. My device therefrom affords a simple, compact and efiicient apparatus for using a standard mining machine of the class described in instances where overcutting is desired, thereby saving the installation of more expensive, complicated and cumbersome machinery which heretofore has been necessary for work of this nature. The device is of particular advantage for use in low veins of coal, under which conditions the ordinary type of overcutting machines cannot be used on account. of their excessive height and size. Furthermore, the means for adjusting the height of the support affords additional head room for the entire apparatus when loading it on a truck, and when moving from place to place in the mine.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a mining machine having suitable cutting mechanism for cutting a continuous kerf, an auxiliary support adapted to be connected to said mining machine, to carry the latter with its cutting mechanism at a higher level, said support comprising two members having telescoping side walls, means for adjusting the height of said members, comprising a'plurality of lifting devices, and means for actuating said lifting devices simultaneously.

2. In combination with a mining machine having suitable cutting mechanism for cutting a continuous kerf, an auxiliary support adapted to be connected to said mining machine, to carry the latter with its cutting mechanism at a higher level, said support having suitable cutting mechanism, an auxiliary support for said machine and means for varying the height of said support compris mg a base portion, a movable top portion, toggle levers connecting said base and'top portions, and means for operating said toggle levers.

5. In combination with a mining machine having suitable cutting mechanism, an auxiliary support for said machine and means for varying the height of said support comprising a base portion,.a movable top portion, toggle levers connecting said base and top portions, and means extending from one 77 end of said support, for operating said toggle levers.

6. In combination with a mining machine having suitable cutting mechanism, an auxiliary support for said machine and means for varying the height of said support comprising a base portion, a movable top portion, a pair of oppositely disposed toggle levers connecting said base and top portions, and

means for moving said toggle levers simultaneously.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

